Poluentes emergentes: contexto legal e impactos ambientais da farmacocontaminação

Abstract

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products in the environment is proven by several studies conducted over the past years in different parts of the world and, as a result, has been recognized as a global emerging issue. Such assertion is clarified due to the extensive use of pharmaceutical products in human and animal medicine. In view of the above, the present study aims to (1) analyze the international and national legal and regulatory provisions regarding the management of pharmaceutical products and their post-consumption waste, (2) learn about the proposals for drug take-back programs in several countries, (3) to present a narrative review on the effects of acetaminophen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and caffeine stimulants on fish, mainly on species with socioeconomic value, and, in parallel, (4) to reflect on the sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations - UN using pharmacocontamination as a case study. The results obtained in this study show that (1) all the countries analyzed have regulations for the correct and environmentally adequate disposal, even if in different spheres of government; (2) there is an absence of a systematic application of drug take-back programs in several countries; (3) there is a high risk of pharmaceutical compounds for fish species, but no risk to human health; and (4) pharmacocontamination is an emerging and growing problem that has direct implications in the environmental, economic, and social spheres. Therefore, this problem directly affects the Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs.